Outstanding Characteristics and Values as a Historical Record of the Royal Barge Lyrics in the Reign of King Rama IX

Abstract

     The purpose of this article was to study 15 expressions of Royal Barge Lyrics composed during King Rama IX's reign. The results of the study found that the Royal Barge Lyrics of His Majesty's era have distinctive characteristics that are unique and different from the Royal Barge Lyrics of the previous era both the content and the opportunity to compose make the epic of this era have two outstanding characteristics: acting as a literature for honor the King and a literature for Buddhist worship. In terms of value, it is found that the epic of this era is valuable as a record of historical events that occurred in the era in two types: records of events related to King Rama IX and important events of the country. It can be said that the Royale Barge Lyrics of this era have unique characteristics and values that demonstrate the development of Thai epics. This is because the epic of the barge in this era is not only the epic of the barge used in royal ceremonies, but it also serves as royal literature and Buddhist worship literature, as well as being valuable as a historical record of the era.